Something that could bring you wealth and fame could also be your end, your undoing.
Philip Seymour HoffmanActing is so difficult for me that, unless the work is of a certain stature in my mind, unless I reach the expectations I have of myself, I'm unhappy. Then it's a miserable existence. I'm putting a piece of myself out there. If it doesn't do anything, I feel so ashamed. I'm afraid I'll be the kind of actor who thought he would make a difference and didn't. Right now, though, I feel like I made a little bit of difference.
Philip Seymour HoffmanI have so much empathy for these young actors that are 19 and all of a sudden they're beautiful and famous and rich. I'm like, 'Oh my God, I'd be dead.'
Philip Seymour HoffmanI've worked with a lot of characters that are unhinged. I've played characters that are unhinged. That's, like, my job.
Philip Seymour HoffmanYou must be really bad, because it is a puzzle. Creating anything is hard. Itโs a clichรฉ thing to say, but every time you start a job, you just donโt know anything. I mean, I can break something down, but ultimately I donโt know anything when I start work on a new movie. You start stabbing out, and you make a mistake, and itโs not right, and then you try again and again. The key is you have to commit. And thatโs hard because you have to find what it is you are committing to.
Philip Seymour Hoffman